Laura Armstrong
Profile
Dr. Laura Armstrong, Ph.D., C.Psych., is a Full Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and researcher at Saint Paul University, in Ottawa, Canada, in the School of Counselling, Psychotherapy, and Spirituality. She supervises numerous graduate students in exploring mental health for diverse populations (e.g., children, neurodiverse persons, homeless men, Black mothers, etc.) in relation to meaning—experienced through agency over thoughts and behaviours, positive self-concept, hope for the future, and openness to new experiences, to learning and to feelings: Meaning Mindset Theory. Dr. Armstrong is the editor of three textbooks and the author of over 35 published, in press, or submitted peer reviewed book chapters and journal article manuscripts. She was also invited by the Ontario Ministry of Education to write a resilience brief for educators and community leaders working with children. Dr. Armstrong also engages in invited public presentations or media interviews to enhance resilience and community mental health, and she works in clinical practice with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
In addition to developing and evaluating quantitative measures of risk behaviours, meaning mindset, and mental health, Dr. Armstrong has developed a novel community-action, Third Wave Positive Psychology research methodology called the Knowledge Translation Integrated approach. Further, grounded in Meaning Mindset Theory and practice, which is also a Third Wave Positive Psychology theory, Dr. Armstrong has developed and evaluated a resilience-based mental health promotion program for school children called the D.R.E.A.M. (Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, and Meaning) program. This school-based program has been funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Council Insight and Insight Development Grants, as well as John Wells Spiritual Care awards from the Society for Pastoral Care and Counselling Research. The D.R.E.A.M. program uses original music, video teaching episodes, games, artistic activities, and drama to teach skills for resilience to children ages 6 to 12 (https://www.youtube.com/@reflectionsonchildrensment2900). This program has been developed for school children in general and adapted for gifted and bright children to address the unique emotional, sensory, spiritual, imaginational, and social challenges they sometimes face. These challenges can act as barriers to academic and interpersonal success and well-being, but can be transformed into strengths.
Dr. Armstrong has collaborated with a colleague (Dr. B. Epperson) to apply Meaning Mindset Theory to the development of a new conflict coaching model for Ombuds practice called “EASE” (Empathic listening; Acknowledge circumstances; Sensible action; Explore thoughts and feelings). This research is among the first quantitative outcome research for ombuds practice, applying what works from psychotherapy to a different field.
- Positive psychology
- Psychotherapy
- Mental health
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Ottawa (2013) – dissertation nominated for Governor General’s Gold Medal
Honours Baccalaureate of Arts in Psychology, University of Ottawa (2004) – Governor General’s medal recipient; Chancellor’s scholar
Member of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Papers in refereed Journals:
- Parrot, J., Armstrong, L.L., Watt, E., Fabes, R., & Timlin, R. (2021). Building resilience during COVID-19: Recommendations for adapting the DREAM program – live edition to an online-live hybrid model for in-person and virtual classrooms. Frontiers in Psychology, Educational Psychology, Online first. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647420
- Armstrong, L.L., Watt, E., St. John, E., & Desson, S. (2020). The Interactive Symptoms Assessment: I.S.A. – Development and Validation Using a Knowledge Translation-Integrated Model. Current Psychology, Online first. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00801-5
- Armstrong, L.L., Watt, E., St. John, E., & Desson, S. (2019). The Child Identity and Purpose Questionnaire – Interactive: Development and Validation of the Revised, Video-Based Version. The Humanistic Psychologist, Online first, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hum0000147
- Armstrong, L.L., Desson, S., St. John, E., & Watt, E. (2018). The D.R.E.A.M. Program: Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, & Meaning (Gifted Edition) – A Second Wave Positive Psychology Approach. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Online first. Doi: 10.1080/09515070.2018.1559798
- Armstrong, L.L., Desson, S., St. John, E., & Watt, E. (2018). The D.R.E.A.M. Program: Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, & Meaning (Gifted Edition) – A Second Wave Positive Psychology Approach. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, DOI: 10.1080/09515070.2018.1559798
- Armstrong, L.L. (2018). The D.R.E.A.M. Program: Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes, & Meaning — Program Development & Evaluation through a Knowledge Translation-Integrated Approach. Spirituality & Counselling, special edition (Positive Psychology), 36, 93-120. DOI: 2143/CS.36.1.0000000
- Sigg, C., & Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Swallowing the ‘Givens’ of Existence: How Second Wave Positive Psychology Can Contribute to Psychotherapy for Eating Disorder Treatment, 36, 145-168. Spirituality & Counselling, special edition (Positive Psychology). DOI: 10.2143/CS.36.1.0000000
- Yagi, I., & Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Meaning-Based Interventions for Addressing End-of-Life Coping. Spirituality & Counselling, special edition (Positive Psychology), 36.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2016). The Child Identity & Purpose (Ch.I.P.) Questionnaire: Pilot assessment and development. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 39, 78-88.
- Armstrong, L.L.(2016). R.E.A.L. Therapy: Rational-Emotive Attachment-based Logotherapy for Families. The Family Journal. DOI: 10.1177/1066480716628626
- Armstrong, L.L. & Young, K.(2015). Mind the Gap: Person-Centred Delivery of Mental Health Information to Post-Secondary Students. Psychosocial Intervention 10.1016/j.psi.2015.05.002. 24(2): 83-87.
- Armstrong, L.L. & Manion, I.G.(2015). Predictors of Rural & Urban Youth Suicidal Ideation by Gender: A Case for Targeted Prevention. Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies. doi:10.1080/17450128.2015.1046535. Published online.
- Armstrong L.L. & Manion, I.G. (2015). Meaningful Youth Engagement as a Protective Factor for Youth Suicidal Ideation. Journal of Research on Adolescence DOI: 10.1111/jora.12098. 25: 20-27.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2012). Initial development and validation of the Checklist of Risk Behaviours for Youth (CORBY). Psychology, Health & Medicine, 17, 116-124.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2009). A utilization-focused approach to evaluating a youth friendly mental health program: The Youth Net/Réseau Ado story. Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies, 4, 361-369.
- Armstrong, L.L. & Manion, I.G. (2006). Suicidal ideation in young males living in rural communities: Living distance from school as a risk factor, youth engagement as a protective factor. Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 1, 102-113.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2006). Barriers to intimate sexuality: Concerns and meaning-based therapy approaches. The Humanistic Psychologist, 34, 281-298.
Books Authored
- Armstrong, L.L. (2021). How to Have Fun While Promoting Mental Health Virtually: Games & Activities for Online Psychotherapy & Classrooms. KDP Publishers, Ottawa.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2020). The Worry Wind. Illustrated by Marieke Douma. KDP Publishers, Ottawa.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2020). Vent de l’inquietude. Illustrated by Marieke Douma. KDP Publishers, Ottawa.
Books Edited
- Mothers, Addiction and Recovery. Peterson, W., Armstrong, L.L., & Foulkes, M. (2018), Demeter Press, Canada
- Existential Elements of the Family. Conflicts, Ethics & Spirituality Series. Armstrong, L.L. (2018), Peeters Publishers, Belgium
Book Chapters
- Armstrong, L.L. (in press). The Unique Social, Emotional, & Behavioural Needs of Gifted Children & Arts-Based Therapy Strategies to Address these Needs. Rovers, M. Creative Art Therapies.
- Bellehumeur, C., Armstrong, L.L., & Bilodeau, C. (in press). Gilbert Durand’s model of the imaginary and Second Wave Positive Psychology proposed as theoretical frameworks for enhancing arts-based psychotherapy for traumatized clients. Rovers, M. Creative Art Therapies.
- Bellehumeur, C., Armstrong, L.L., & Kam, C. (in press). The Archetypal Test with nine elements (AT.9) as a projective tool in the context of art psychotherapies with alexithymic clients. Rovers, M. Creative Art Therapies.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2018). R.E.A.L. Tools for Everyday Parenting: A Rational-Emotive Attachment-based Logotherapy Approach. Armstrong, L.L. Existential Elements of the Family. Peeters, Belgium.
- Armstrong, L.L., Elward, J., & Elward, C. (2018). Finding meaning: Fertility issues, miscarriage, and early infant loss. Armstrong, L.L. Existential Elements of the Family. Peeters, Belgium.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Introduction to Existential Elements of the Family. Armstrong, L.L. Existential Elements of the Family. Peeters, Belgium.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Conclusion to Existential Elements of the Family. Armstrong, L.L. Existential Elements of the Family. Peeters, Belgium.
- Watt, E., & Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Finding Meaning in Waiting: Challenges & Growth for Families on Psychotherapy Waiting Lists. Armstrong, L.L. Existential Elements of the Family. Peeters, Belgium.
- Armstrong, L.L. (2018). R.E.A.L. Education to Prevent Smartphone Addiction – A Rational-Emotive, Attachment Logotherapy Approach for Expectant Mothers. Mothers, Addiction and Recovery. Peterson, W., Armstrong, L.L., & Foulkes, M. (Eds.). Demeter Press, Canada.
- Peterson, W., Armstrong, L.L., & Foulkes, M. (2018). Introduction, Mothering with Addiction and Finding Meaning. Mothers, Addiction and Recovery: Finding Meaning through the Journey. Demeter Press, Canada.
- Peterson, W., Armstrong, L.L., & Foulkes, M. (2018). Conclusion, Mothering with Addiction and Finding Meaning. Mothers, Addiction and Recovery: Finding Meaning through the Journey. Demeter Press, Canada.
- Sigg, C., & Armstrong, L.L. (2018). Confronting the Addictive Nature of Eating Disorder Behaviours: How Mothers Can Provide Meaningful Support to Daughters with Eating Disorders through a Meaning-Centered Framework. Mothers, Addiction & Recovery: Finding Meaning in the Journey. Demeter Press, Canada.
- Armstrong, L.L. (accepted). Building the D.R.E.A.M.: Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes and Meaning, a Mental Health Promotion Approach. Bellehumeur, C. & Malette, J. (Eds.) Positive Psychology and Spirituality: Healing through Pleasure. Peeters, Belgium.
- Sigg, C., & Armstrong, L.L. (accepted). Swallowing the ‘Givens’ of Existence: How Second Wave Positive Psychology Can Contribute to Psychotherapy for Eating Disorder Treatment. Bellehumeur, C. & Malette, J. (Eds.) Positive Psychology and Spirituality: Healing through Pleasure. Peeters, Belgium.
- Yagi, I., & Armstrong, L.L. (accepted). Meaning-Based Interventions for Addressing End-of-Life Coping. Bellehumeur, C. & Malette, J. (Eds.) Positive Psychology and Spirituality: Healing through Pleasure. Peeters, Belgium.